The saddest verse in all of Sacred Scripture has to be from the Book of Revelation chapter 2, verse 4. The author says, “I hold this against you: you have less love than you used to have.” Pope Francis puts his finger on the way such a cold heart comes to be. In his 2017 Lenten message, our Holy Father quoted Jesus’ words in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew: “Because of the increase in iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (24:12).
The Prophet Ezekiel died right at the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity: that time in which the people of Israel were exiled from their land and at a low point in their history. Ezekiel envisioned a gift from God, exchanging the heart of stone and replacing it with a natural heart (Ezek 36:26). This prophecy, so full of hope, is a very popular suggestion in the Mass for Confirmation.The coordinators of parish Confirmation preparation programs often choose this prophesy of Ezekiel in the knowledge that it speaks to the modern ear of youth – in fact to people of all ages.
Whether we call it a “cold heart” or a “heart of stone,” there is that tendency in human nature for sin to sneak into our lives. We recognize it as an “all about me” attitude, which Pope Francis calls self- referential. Saint Paul passionately proclaimed how the death and resurrection of Jesus has the power to overcome, not only death, but also the darkness caused by sin. The season of Lent provides a gold mine for turning our hearts away from a cold or stony heart to a natural one … in fact, to a natural heart elevated by the grace of Jesus Christ. We recall that all the good we do is evidence of God’s grace alive. Even the nudge to take up some healthy and holy habits is prevenient or actual grace that moves us in faith to accept.
While driving, I have figured out how to listen to podcasts, which are very entertaining and instructive. I have begun to listen to a particular podcast called “Pints with Aquinas.” This podcast is by Matt Fradd, a gentleman with an appealing Australian accent who has made his life’s work the appreciation of Saint Thomas Aquinas and the 13th century wisdom contained in his “Summa Theologica” and so many other writings. Mr. Fradd imagines a conversation with the “Angelic Doctor” over a pint of beer in a friendly pub and brings up engaging topics of the day, about which Saint Thomas Aquinas remarkably had something to say 800 years ago.
A recent edition of “Pints with Aquinas” offers ten ideas for Lent – half of them involve giving up something, and the other half are positive steps.The recommendation is not to choose to give up or to give but rather to do a bit of both. By the way, Aquinas states that fasting or giving up something has a threefold purpose: increasing our habit of resisting temptations, showing sorrow for past sins and purifying our minds and hearts to seek holiness.
The positive acts, like almsgiving, lead to change in a way that I recall learning about when I was training for family therapy: most change involves not so much thinking our way into a new way of acting but rather acting our way into a new way of thinking. The story is told of the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, who when asked by a confrere on the way to deepen his appreciation of the truths of our faith, simply answered: “Give alms.”
Last year, I wrote about my practice of establishing a Lenten budget fixed at the outset with the amount I would give away and then having the adventure of finding the best causes to support. It moves the heart away from the self and outward to God and to others. Likewise, the silent heart that comes from ten minutes of daily prayer moves us inward to uncover God’s voice within our hearts … in the stillness of the moment. Being armed with the Gospel according to Saint Mark (which is the predominant source of Gospel readings for this lectionary year, Cycle B) moves me to walk the familiar path of Jesus’ public life, always being surprised by new insights or fresh applications to the events of the day.
So armed with the benefits of fasting and positive acts of generosity, let us seek a blend of giving up and giving during these Lenten days.
Hope in the Lord — Giving up and giving – signs of a warm heart
The saddest verse in all of Sacred Scripture has to be from the Book of Revelation chapter 2, verse 4. The author says, “I hold this against you: you have less love than you used to have.” Pope Francis puts his finger on the way such a cold heart comes to be. In his 2017 Lenten message, our Holy Father quoted Jesus’ words in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew: “Because of the increase in iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (24:12).
The Prophet Ezekiel died right at the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity: that time in which the people of Israel were exiled from their land and at a low point in their history. Ezekiel envisioned a gift from God, exchanging the heart of stone and replacing it with a natural heart (Ezek 36:26). This prophecy, so full of hope, is a very popular suggestion in the Mass for Confirmation. The coordinators of parish Confirmation preparation programs often choose this prophesy of Ezekiel in the knowledge that it speaks to the modern ear of youth – in fact to people of all ages.
Whether we call it a “cold heart” or a “heart of stone,” there is that tendency in human nature for sin to sneak into our lives. We recognize it as an “all about me” attitude, which Pope Francis calls self- referential. Saint Paul passionately proclaimed how the death and resurrection of Jesus has the power to overcome, not only death, but also the darkness caused by sin. The season of Lent provides a gold mine for turning our hearts away from a cold or stony heart to a natural one … in fact, to a natural heart elevated by the grace of Jesus Christ. We recall that all the good we do is evidence of God’s grace alive. Even the nudge to take up some healthy and holy habits is prevenient or actual grace that moves us in faith to accept.
While driving, I have figured out how to listen to podcasts, which are very entertaining and instructive. I have begun to listen to a particular podcast called “Pints with Aquinas.” This podcast is by Matt Fradd, a gentleman with an appealing Australian accent who has made his life’s work the appreciation of Saint Thomas Aquinas and the 13th century wisdom contained in his “Summa Theologica” and so many other writings. Mr. Fradd imagines a conversation with the “Angelic Doctor” over a pint of beer in a friendly pub and brings up engaging topics of the day, about which Saint Thomas Aquinas remarkably had something to say 800 years ago.
A recent edition of “Pints with Aquinas” offers ten ideas for Lent – half of them involve giving up something, and the other half are positive steps. The recommendation is not to choose to give up or to give but rather to do a bit of both. By the way, Aquinas states that fasting or giving up something has a threefold purpose: increasing our habit of resisting temptations, showing sorrow for past sins and purifying our minds and hearts to seek holiness.
The positive acts, like almsgiving, lead to change in a way that I recall learning about when I was training for family therapy: most change involves not so much thinking our way into a new way of acting but rather acting our way into a new way of thinking. The story is told of the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, who when asked by a confrere on the way to deepen his appreciation of the truths of our faith, simply answered: “Give alms.”
Last year, I wrote about my practice of establishing a Lenten budget fixed at the outset with the amount I would give away and then having the adventure of finding the best causes to support. It moves the heart away from the self and outward to God and to others. Likewise, the silent heart that comes from ten minutes of daily prayer moves us inward to uncover God’s voice within our hearts … in the stillness of the moment. Being armed with the Gospel according to Saint Mark (which is the predominant source of Gospel readings for this lectionary year, Cycle B) moves me to walk the familiar path of Jesus’ public life, always being surprised by new insights or fresh applications to the events of the day.
So armed with the benefits of fasting and positive acts of generosity, let us seek a blend of giving up and giving during these Lenten days.
Multicultural ministry office to host back to school fair July 29